Family Membracidae - Treehoppers

Classification · Size · Identification · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Auchenorrhyncha (Free-living Hemipterans)

Superfamily Cicadoidea

Family Membracidae (Treehoppers)

Size

Rarely over 10-12 mm.

Identification

Large pronotum that covers the head and extends back over the abdomen. Many species appear humpbacked; others have spines, horns or keels. Some look like thorns.

Food

They feed chiefly on trees and shrubs and most species feed only on specific types of host plants.

Life Cycle

Eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring. Nymphs drop to the ground. They return to trees to lay eggs.

Remarks

Ony a few species are considered pests; most of the damage is caused by egg laying.

Print References

(1)

Internet References

University of Florida

Works Cited

1.	Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects By Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 21 December, 2007 - 5:23pm

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